HOUSTON -- NASA has adjusted the target launch dates for the two
remaining space shuttle missions in 2008. Shuttle Atlantis' STS-125
mission to the Hubble Space Telescope is targeted for Oct. 10, while
Endeavour's STS-126 supply mission to the International Space Station
has moved to Nov. 12.

Shuttle managers made the decision after Atlantis was rolled to the
launch pad and the effects of Tropical Storm Hanna were beyond NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida. That allowed managers to more
accurately assess the impacts of recent tropical systems on the
launch schedule.

Atlantis began rolling from Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building to
Launch Pad 39A Thursday at 9:19 a.m. EDT. The shuttle arrived at the
pad at approximately 2 p.m. and was secured at 3:52 p.m. Atlantis now
is targeted to launch at approximately 12:33 a.m. EDT, Friday, Oct.
10. NASA Television coverage of launch will begin at 7:30 p.m. EDT on
Thursday, Oct. 9. The 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to
repair and upgrade the Hubble telescope. Atlantis is scheduled to
land at approximately 10:21 p.m., Oct. 20.

Scott Altman will command STS-125, with Gregory C. Johnson serving as
pilot. Mission specialists include veteran spacewalkers John
Grunsfeld and Mike Massimino, and first-time space fliers Andrew
Feustel, Michael Good and Megan McArthur.

Endeavour will close 2008 with a 15-day mission to deliver supplies
and cargo to the space station. During the STS-126 mission, NASA
astronaut Sandra Magnus will replace Greg Chamitoff as an Expedition
18 crew member on the station. Chamitoff will return to Earth after
five months in space. The mission's targeted launch time is 8:43 p.m.
EST, Nov. 12. Landing will occur at approximately 2:45 p.m., Nov. 27.


Chris Ferguson will command STS-126, with Eric Boe serving as pilot.
Mission specialists will be Steve Bowen, Shane Kimbrough, Heidemarie
Stefanyshyn-Piper, Donald Pettit, Magnus and Chamitoff.

The formal launch dates for space shuttle flights are determined
during the Flight Readiness Review, which is conducted about two
weeks before launch. The STS-125 review is scheduled for Sept. 22-23.
The review for STS-126 is scheduled for Oct. 30.

An STS-125 launch dress rehearsal, known as the terminal countdown
demonstration test, or TCDT, is scheduled to take place at Kennedy
Sept. 22-24. The test provides each shuttle crew with an opportunity
to participate in simulated countdown activities, including equipment
familiarization and emergency training.